COVID-19 Update: Case Count at 68 with 40 Recovered, More Items Accepted at Donations Site, Resources for Diverse Populations, Planning Items Postponed
Posted April 17, 2020 at 5:44 pm Category: Emergency Management • Emergency News • News Release • Public Health
NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC – As of April 17, 2020, there have been 68 lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19 in New Hanover County, and of those there are 40 people who have recovered, 27 people who are still ill and experiencing symptoms, and one death.
Of the 68 lab-confirmed COVID-19 cases in New Hanover County, 53% are female and 47% are male; 74% White, 14% percent Black/African American, 9% Hispanic/Latino, and 3% Unknown; and 7% are 18-24 years old, 38% are 25-49 years old, 31% are 50-64 years old, and 24% are 65+ years old. In addition, according to Public Health resources, there are currently eight people with COVID-19 who are hospitalized in our community.
Recovered Patients
Forty of the 68 lab-confirmed cases have now recovered from COVID-19 in New Hanover County. People are considered recovered when:
- they have been fever free for at least three days without the use of fever reducing medication; and
- have improved respiratory symptoms; and
- at least seven days have passed from symptom onset.
“New Hanover County Public Health nurses regularly follow up with lab-confirmed cases and speak to the individual to see if they meet the criteria for being recovered,” said Public Health Preparedness Coordinator Lisa Brown. “What we are seeing is that every person experiences a different degree of symptoms – some are much more severe than others and the duration of symptoms varies as well. It is still incredibly important for everyone to listen to Public Health’s guidance – stay home, remain six feet away from others and do not gather in groups, and wash your hands often and well – so that we can continue to slow the spread of this virus in our community.”
View a video of Public Health expert Lisa Brown explaining what it means to be recovered.
Food and Diaper Donations Needed
The county’s donations drop-off site has expanded donations accepted to include essential items in response to an increased need in the community during the COVID-19 crisis. The New Hanover Disaster Coalition, in partnership with New Hanover County and New Hanover Regional Medical Center is coordinating donations of essential goods like food, diapers, and other hygiene items, in addition to personal protective equipment. Donations will be distributed by the Food Bank of Eastern and Central North Carolina and the Diaper Bank of North Carolina for community members in need. Donations can be dropped off Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the NHRMC Business Center at 3151 S. 17th Street, Wilmington.
Items Accepted at the Donations Drop-off Site:
- Personal Protective Equipment (masks, gloves, face shields, gowns, etc.)
- Non-perishable Food Pantry Items (No glass jars or expired items)
- Peanut and other nut butters
- Boxed macaroni & cheese
- Canned protein, vegetables and soups (pop-top lids and low sodium preferred)
- Pasta
- Rice
- Dried beans
- Cereal
- Granola bars
- Hygiene & Incontinence Products
- Infant diapers — most needed sizes: Newborn and Size 5
- Toddler pull-ups
- Adult pull-ups (no tabs) — most needed sizes: medium and large
- Urinary incontinence pads
- Period products (pads, tampons, & liners)
Resources for Diverse Populations in New Hanover County
New Hanover County has created additional information and resources for outreach to the African American and Hispanic communities, providing helpful guidance for all residents to raise awareness and help stop the spread of COVID-19 in our community. View an African American community flyer here and a Hispanic community flyer here. Those flyers and additional resources can be found on the county’s Reduce Risk webpage.
In addition, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) Division of Services for the Deaf & the Hard of Hearing and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) have created American Sign Language (ASL) videos about COVID-19, public health messaging on protective measures, instructions on making cloth face coverings, guidance for individuals and families impacted by COVID-19, and the latest relevant information from health experts. View those in the links below and on the county’s Resources & Assistance webpage.
- NCDHHS – COVID-19 Videos in ASL and with Captions
- NCDHHS – COVID-19 Hearing Loss Resources
- CDC’s – COVID-19 ASL Video Playlist
Planning Items Postponed, Planning Board Meeting Canceled
Planning items originally scheduled to be heard by the New Hanover County Board of Commissioners in May will be postponed until June. In addition, the New Hanover County Planning Board meeting scheduled for Thursday, May 7 has been canceled. The public will continue to be informed of any additional information regarding planning items.
Slow the Spread
Steps that everyone can take to slow the spread of COVID-19 include:
- Comply with the Governor’s Stay at Home Order and New Hanover County restrictions.
- Wear Cloth Face Coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain.
- Stay home unless you must travel for essential purposes. If you must leave your home, follow proper physical distancing protocols: don’t gather in groups of more than 10 and stay at least 6 feet away from others.
- Stay home if you are sick, even if you are an essential worker. And cover your coughs and sneezes.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds.
- Clean and disinfect surfaces that are frequently touched (like your phone, tablet, countertops and daily work surfaces).
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As of 5 p.m. on Friday, April 17, 2020, there have been 68 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in New Hanover County. For updates and resources related to the COVID-19 virus in New Hanover County, visit Health.NHCgov.com, call our Public Health Coronavirus Call Center at 910-798-6800, and follow the county’s trusted social media pages: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Nextdoor.